What Good Is Power? Faith, Politics, and the Common Good | Veritas Forum at Oxford

Luke Bretherton (Oxford), Tom Simpson (Oxford), and Dinesha Samararatne (University of Colombo, Sri Lanka) explore power and its role in Christian life. | University of Oxford, 05/15/2026 | Explore more at https://www.veritas.org. Speakers: Luke Bretherton - Regius Professor of Moral & Pastoral Theology at Christ Church, University of Oxford Dinesha Samararatne - Professor at the Department of Public & International Law, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka Tom Simpson - Alfred Landecker Professor of Values and Public Policy at University of Oxford Moderator: Bethan Willis - University of Oxford Want Veritas updates in your inbox? Subscribe to our twice-monthly newsletter here: https://www.veritas.org/newsletter-yt INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/veritasforum FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/veritasforum PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-veritas-forum/id1210782509 SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=VeritasForum Over the past two decades, The Veritas Forum has been hosting vibrant discussions on life's hardest questions and engaging the world's leading colleges and universities with Christian perspectives and the relevance of Jesus. Learn more at http://www.veritas.org, with upcoming events and over 600 pieces of media on topics including science, philosophy, music, business, medicine, and more! 0:00 Introduction 4:23 What Is Power? Hobbes, Authority, and the Libido Dominandi 14:26 Choosing Powerlessness on Sri Lanka's Constitutional Council 25:17 The Passion Narrative as a Clash of Two Powers 39:37 Is Coercive Power Always Dominatory? 44:47 A Soldier's Perspective on Power and Lawful Authority 48:37 Power, Balance, and Constitutional Harmony 51:28 Can Character Alone Save Us From Bad Power? 54:54 Christian Nationalism and the Church's Abuses of Power 58:38 Affective Polarization and Christian Political Identity 1:04:40 Q&R - How Should Christians Relate to the Powerless 1:11:50 Q&R - How Foot Washing Reshapes the Self 1:15:23 Humility as Honest Strength, Not Self-Erasure